The Vols have been ranked No. 1 nationally for four weeks and haven’t been adversely affected by their heightened status in college basketball. Moreover, the fifth-ranked Wildcats are coming off a rare home-court loss – on a last-second tip-in by LSU on Tuesday.

Tennessee forward John Fulkerson (10), Jordan Bowden and Kyle Alexander (11) celebrate a basket against South Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. Tennessee defeated South Carolina 92-70. Sean Rayford, Associated Press

Tennessee guard Admiral Schofield (5) reacts to a play during a SEC/Big 12 Challenge game between Tennessee and West Virginia at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, January 26, 2019. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee forward Grant Williams (2) gestures to teammates during a game between Tennessee and Tennessee Tech at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, December 29, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

Tennessee guard Admiral Schofield (5) throws the ball back into play during a game between Tennessee and Samford at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel, Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee's Admiral Schofield (5) and Grant Williams (2) goes into the crowd to celebrate with fans their win over Gonzaga in an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Phoenix. Darryl Webb, AP

Tennessee guard Admiral Schofield (5) goes for a dunk during the first half of the Tennessee Volunteers' home basketball game against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders at Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday, December 2, 2018. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel

Despite the setback, no other UT opponent has been better equipped to threaten the Vols' ranking than Kentucky will be Saturday night.

UT has played Kentucky 107 times in Lexington. It has lost 90 times.

In March 1993, the Vols lost to Kentucky by 61 points at Rupp Arena. The drubbing was followed by a Knoxville blizzard as epic as the game.

No such storms are brewing this weekend. And few Tennessee teams have been as fortified to combat the challenge that Kentucky’s basketball dynasty presents, which brings us back to my role-reversal theme. In fact, the Vols better resemble some of those No. 1 Kentucky teams than the current Wildcats do.

Tennessee is running now – running the way so many Kentucky teams have. Think of all the Kentucky guards who seemingly could dribble the length of the court in the blink of an eye. Tennessee point guard Jordan Bone belongs in the same track club.

Conversely, Kentucky’s latest basketball model adheres more to a grind-it-out approach. Never mind that its roster is loaded with precocious freshmen. Their dedication to defense belies their experience.

Freshman point guard Ashton Hagans already is being hailed as one of the nation's premier perimeter defenders. Hagans vs. Bone could be the most intriguing matchup of the game.

The competition near the basket could be similarly compelling. Kentucky’s PJ Washington and Reid Travis have the size and experience to contend with UT leading scorer Grant Williams, whose post-up moves frequently have ended up with him at the foul line and an opposing defender shaking his head.

Tennessee is so well balanced that it has prospered this season even when a prominent player or two has an off-game. More might be required against Kentucky.

UT senior post player Kyle Alexander, whose production has been up and down, will play a major role in contending with the likes of Washington, Travis and even bigger post backups Nick Richards (6-foot-11) and EJ Montgomery (6-10). Defending effectively inside without getting in foul trouble could prove crucial for UT, which lacks Kentucky’s post depth.

But no matter how the various matchups play out, the game will lack finality. The teams will meet again in Knoxville the first week of March and perhaps in the SEC tournament as well.

By then you should know whether Kentucky’s basketball blue bloods or Tennessee’s No. 1 newcomers are more apt to end the season on a Final Four stage.

Maybe they both will.

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John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at twitter.com/johnadamskns.